Metropolitan Police Careers

Training & benefits

Training

As a special constable you will have the same powers as regular Metropolitan police officers. Unsurprisingly, such responsibility requires that you undergo a thorough grounding in the many aspects of police work that you will carry out.

Firstly, you will attend an extensive training course, either over 23 Sundays or during a full time 23 day course. This will provide you with the basic skills and tools to work in your chosen area. For example:

• Powers of arrest
• Report book writing
• How to prepare your evidence for court
• Officer safety training
• Dealing with challenging situations or people.

You will then be required to undertake regular training by attending further sessions over an 18-month period. After this you will receive ongoing training throughout your service, as and when required, ensuring your skills and knowledge are always up to date and relevant.

Benefits

While you won't receive any financial rewards for the time you commit, there are numerous intangible benefits inherent in making a contribution to improving the safety and prosperity of your community.

Firstly, you can expect to enjoy much of the variety of police work, experiencing new and different challenges every time you go out on patrol.

In meeting such challenges, you will be working as one of a close-knit team, forming lasting friendships and learning more about yourself, life and human nature than most people will ever see.

You will also develop transferable skills such as problem solving, negotiating, decision-making, team working, communication and coping under pressure. Such development will not only help you as a special constable, it will also stand you in good stead for your daily life and full-time career.